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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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how to tell if its a roller block?

  • Thread starter Thread starter eightyfour
  • Start date Start date Dec 18, 2003
E

eightyfour

New Member
Aug 4, 2003
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Whitestone, NY
Dec 18, 2003
#1
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #1
what is the easiest way to tell if a motor is a roller block? thanks.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Massachusetts
Dec 18, 2003
#2
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #2
XXX or YYY in the lifter valley under the intake manifold
 
E

eightyfour

New Member
Aug 4, 2003
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Whitestone, NY
Dec 18, 2003
#3
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #3
sorry if i seem like an idiot but i have no idea what that means
 

NKau

Founding Member
Dec 15, 2001
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Dec 18, 2003
#4
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #4
eightyfour said:
sorry if i seem like an idiot but i have no idea what that means
Click to expand...

If you pull the intake off the motor you will see those letters stamped on the block in the lifter valley. Don't make the mistake of just picking up any 5.0 roller block. Get an '87-'92 motor out of a 5.0 mustang or lincoln LSC; same exact thing. That way you get forged pistons, a decent stock cam, and decent factory heads to start with.
A lot of the lincoln LSC's end up in junkyards because of tranny problems. A lot of the engines in them (if maintained) still have great compression (because they generally weren't beat on like stangs) and you can sometimes get away with using the shortblock as is.
 
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eightyfour

New Member
Aug 4, 2003
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Dec 18, 2003
#5
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #5
so which letter mean roller? thanks,
 

NKau

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Jefferson, WI
Dec 18, 2003
#6
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #6
eightyfour said:
so which letter mean roller? thanks,
Click to expand...

Three x's (XXX) or three y's (YYY); both letters indicate that you have a roller block.
Oh, and unless the motor in your '84 was replaced, it's not a roller block. The first roller blocks were put in '85's.
 

YardSpecial

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Mar 20, 2003
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Dec 18, 2003
#7
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #7
Firing order is a dead giveaway also !! (351W)
 
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goldbomb79

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Jun 4, 2003
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Indiana
Dec 18, 2003
#8
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #8
ok here is a real easy way to tell. when you have the intake off look and see if the top is machined on each hole for the lifters. if it's machined it's a roller block. if it's not machined then it's not
 
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eightyfour

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Whitestone, NY
Dec 18, 2003
#9
  • Dec 18, 2003
  • #9
ok thanks everyone.
 
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